Potato-digger



(No Model.)

, 3 sheets-sheet 1. W. DANBY.

POTATO BIGGER.

Patented May 9, 1893.

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3 Sheets-Sheet Patented May 9, 1893.

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(No Model.)

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W. DANBY. POTATO BIGGER. No. 497,069. Patented Ma J7 .2 43 IJLZWJ Iwitweoa as:

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Unwrap STATES PATENT OTTton.

WILLIAM DANBY, OF MOUNTOR AB, OHIO.

POTATO- DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,069, dated May 9,1893.

Application filed March 17, 1892.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM DANBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mount Orab, in the county of Brown and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato-Diggers; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to potato diggers, and the object of the same isto effect certain improvements in machines of this character.

To this end the invention consists in the construction hereinafter morefully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the threeaccompanying sheets of drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a left sideelevation of the machine complete. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinalsection of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof with the seatremoved. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective detail showing the severalboxes for the main axle, and the ratchetbox on the latter. Fig. 5 is abottom plan View of the front elevator, the digger, and the main axle,showing also the connecting mechanism hereinafter referred to. Fig. 6 isa cross section just in rear of the main axle (the supporting wheelsbeing removed), showing the fender, the means for raising the hopperdoors, and-in dotted linesthe front caster wheels. Fig. 7 is a planvievt of one of the screen frames with its wires removed. Fig. 8 is adetail in rear elevation of another manner of mounting the forwardcaster-wheels in the cross bar. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of a cleanerfor the pulverizing roller which I use in wet weather.

This machine comprises several main parts as follows: The main frame Mmounted 011 the main wheels WV and supported by side caster wheels toand a rear. caster wheel w; the tongue or pole T by which this frame andthe entire machine are drawn; the connecting mechanism 0 between themain axle A and the driving mechanism; the plow or digger D mounted inthe frame of the front elevator F; the device for elevating the plow,marked E; the rear elevator R the shaking screen S in both elevators;and the receiving and delivering hoppers H and their tripping devices.All these parts are preferably about of the con- SerialNO- 425,328. (Nomodel.)

tion of members shown, for that illustrates a working machine; but Ireserve the right to make such changes therein as come within the spiritof my invention, or to use parts without the whole-employing sufficientelements of eachto make up an operative structure or part of the whole.

The detailed description of the several main parts is as follows:

The main frame ]l[.The main wheelsW (which are of the usual or anypreferred pattern) are mounted on the main axle A, one of them beingfast, and the other secured thereto by the usual spring ratchet boxX-best seen in Fig. 4so that the machine can turn corners. On the axlebetween the wheels are mounted two boxes 1, and extending forwardtherefrom are the hounds 2, to which is connected the tongue T. Acrossthe latter is mounted the doubletree 3 carrying two singletrees 4, andfrom the ends of the doubletree rods 5 lead back to the outerextremities of the axle A, to which they are connected by journal boxes6, best seen in Fig. 1. Hence the draft is from the center of the axle,and from both ends thereof as well, so that all resistance is overcomeand the machine moves smoothly along even if obstructions are reached,and will not swerve from side to side. The drivers seat 7 is mounted ona cross rod 8 which connects the, boxes 6. Across the hounds 2 issecured a bar 9 in whose ends are journaled side caster wheels tosupporting the front end of the machine, and connected to the hounds bychains 10 to prevent their displacement. A

The front elevator F.-Inside the boxes 6 two other boxes 11 are mountedon the axle, and from these boxes a frame 12 leads forward and downward,its side bars being connected by cross rods 13 to brace the parts.Shafts 14 and 61 are journaled in the sides of this frame and carrysprocket wheels 15, and over the latter move two endless chains 16connected on their outer faces by cross bars 17 so as to form an endlesselevator which moves upward and rearward to near the main axle A tocarry the potatoes which are dug by the plow.

The plow or digger D. Securely fastened between the side bars of thefront elevator at ICO their lower front ends is a plate cut to a point21 at its front end which is bent down as seen in Fig. 2 so as to enterthe earth. The front ends of said side bars 12 are sharpened as at 22 soas to form cutters which assist the plow in its work. i

The plow elevator E.Journaled across the hounds 2 is a shaft carryingsegments 31 having grooved edges 32, and 33 are chains secured to thesesegments, leading around within their grooved edges, and extending downto the frame 12 to which they are secured. On one end of the shaft 30 isa lever 34 having a spring-actuated retaining pawl 35 engaging a toothedsegment 36; the lever standingwithin reach of the driver so that when itis borne to the rear the entire frame 12 and with it the digger D willbe elevated as desired and may be entirely raised out of at 42; and oneend of this roller is continued through the frame 12 and carries asprocketwheel 43 standing within a guard 44 so as to be protected fromdirt.

The connecting mechanism C'.Keyed on the main axle A is a gear wheel 50which normally meshes with another 51 that is splined on a shaft 52journaled in the frame 12 below the elevator therein. 53 is a leverpivoted at 54 to the main frame and standing alongside the drivers seat,and the lower end of this lever is forked as at 55 and loosely embracesthe small-gear 51, whereby by operating the lever this gear may be slidon the shaft 52 into or out of mesh with the driving gear 50 so as tothrow the machine into operation at will. Referring now to Fig. 5, itwill be seen that the shaft 52 carries a sprocket-wheel 56 connected bya chain 57 with the sprocket 43 of the pulverizing roller, wherebymotion is imparted to the latter. This shaft also carries twosprocket-wheels 58 over each of which leads a chain-belt 59 which passesfirst over a sprocket 60 on the upper shaft 61 of the front elevator F(and thus drives this elevator), thence over a sprocket 62 of the lowershaft of the rear elevator R (hereinafter described), and thence underabelt-tighteningsprocket 63 and back to the point of starting. Thisbelt-tightening-sprocket is journaled in the'free end of an arm 64 whichis pivoted at its other end to the main frame M, and a spring 65 bearsit in such direction as to normally tighten the chain 59 and cause theproper operation of parts.

The rear elevator R.Outside the boxes 1 are two otherboxes from whichside bars M forming part of the main frame extend to the rear, and acaster wheel w supports the rear end of this part of the frame as willbe clear. The rear frame supports two inclined side bars 71 forming theframe of the rear elevator R and which are connected as may benecessary. J ournaled in this frame are cross shafts 72 carryingsprockets 73 over which move two endless chains 73 connected bycrossrods 74 forming the rear elevator-the whole being of approximately thesame construction as the front elevator above described. The lowermostof these shafts 72 carries the sprockets 62 by which motion is impartedto this elevator from the connecting mechanism just described. 75 is thecross'head of a fender which is secured to the boxes 1, and 76 arefingers depending from this headthe purpose thereof being to prevent thepotatoes delivered by the front elevator from falling off the lower endof the rear elevator.See Fig. 6.

The shaking screens S.These are practical duplicates, with theexceptions'noted,and a description of'one will answer for both in allessential particulars. In each of the frames 12 and 71 is provided anumber of seini-cin cular slots 80 wherein rest the ends of crossrods81, and the latter are connected by screenframes 82 fitting close withinthe frames 12 and 71 but cut away as at 83 to permit the sprocket-Wheelsto have their positions and motions. (See Fig. 7.) The shaft 52 iscranked as at 84 and the shaft 72 at'the'lower end of the rear elevatorR is cranked as at 85, and pitmen rods 86 connect these cranks withcertain of the cross-rods 81 0f the screenframes. Hence, as these shaftsrotate, the screens are given each a shaking motion in a curved path,according to the shape of the slots 80 and the length of the cranks. Thelower screen-frame is provided with longitudinal wires 87 standing quiteclose together and on which the upper side of the front elevator rests;while the upper screen-frame is different. That is to say, the rods orwires 88 at the lower half of this frame are olose'together (though notso close as those lettered 87), and those at the upper half (89) aresome distance farther apart.

The hoppers H-The rear mainframe M is inclosed as at 90 to form twohoppers whose bottoms 91 are inclined to two chute-s or mouths 92, thedivision angle 93 standing under the longitudinal center of the rearscreen. Each mouth is closed by a door 94 which rises vertically and isheld normally down by a spring 95, and small cords, chains, or rods 96lead from these doors through suitable eyes or over pulleys to handles97 located adjacent the drivers seat, as shown.

The operation: A team being hitched to the singletrees and the driverhaving taken his seat, the horses are directed astride the row ofpotatoes to be dug. The side casterwheels to support the front end ofthe machine, and the rear caster-wheel w performs the same service forthe pivoted rear main frame. At the proper time, the lever 53 is movedto throw the small gear 51 into mesh with the larger one 50 which iskeyed on the then revolving main axle A, and the machine commencestooperate. The retaining pawl 35 is then tripped and the lever 30 movedforward to lower the frame 12, and thus the digger D is permitted tosink the desired distance into the ground. Its point 21 digs under thepotatoes and the sharp front edges 22 of the side bars of the frame 12assist, and the potato plants are bodily dug from the ground. They passup the plate 20 and over the pulverizing roller P whose teeth 41 scrapethe dirt from the roots and it falls through the lower screen onto thegroundthe potatoes being thereby torn from the plants as will be clear.The crossbars 17 of the front elevator then catch the plants andpotatoes and carry them upward over the lower shaking screen, whichlatter further assists in removing all dirt, which passes therethroughtogether with the very small and worthless potatoes. Passing over themain axle,thepotatoes and plants slide down the fender onto the rearelevator R, up which they pass in a similar manner. But the wires 88 ofthe rear screen are sufficiently far apart to allow medium-sizedpotatoes to fall between them into the forward hopper, and the largerones pass still farther to the rear and fall between the wires 89 intothe rearward hopper, the tops or plants passing over the rear end of therear elevator onto the ground. At stated intervals, the driver pulls thecords or chains 96 and opens one or both the doors 94 so as to deliverthe potatoes in the two hoppers either in piles on the ground or intobags or sacks supplied by another operator for that purpose. Hence thismachine digs the potatoes, separates their tops from the potatoesproper, shakes off the dirt, col lects the different sizes of potatoesin different hoppers, and delivers them when desired into bags forstorage or transportation.

Modifications, (be: Fig. 8 shows another and perhaps a better manner ofmounting the front caster-wheels in the cross bar 9. In this case thewheel w is mounted in a fork w whose rounded shank w passes upwardthrough a sleeve or collar 10 which is bolted as shown at 10 to theunder side of the cross bar 9, and braces 10 may also be used tostrengthen this collar against lateral displacement. Fig. 9 shows acleaner I may use with this machine in wet weather and when the earth orclay would clog the fingers of the pulverizing roller. This cleaner isnot shown elsewhere, nor its attachments, but it will be understood thatthey may or may not be used as desired. J ournaled in each side of theframe F is a head 41 having forwardly-extending fingers 41 alternatingwith those on the roller 40. A spring 41 bears these fingers onto theroller in any suitable way, as shown. In use, it is obvious that whatclods of earth may be carried up and over the pulverizing roller, willbe broken and disintegrated by this cleaner; though in dry weather andwhere the soil is sandy or gravelly, such clods will not be present andthe cleaner not necessary. One idea not illustrated occurs with, andthen when these wheels sink as into a dead furrow, the plow will not beunduly depressed, as would be the case with the de-, vice as hereillustrated. I will be understood, however, as reserving the right tomake these and other obvious mechanical changes in my machine withoutdeparting from the principle of the invention.

That is claimed asnew is 1. In a machine of the class described, thecombination with the main axle mounted on supporting wheels, and thedigging and carrying mechanism supported and driven there by, of thehounds connected with the axlebetween the wheels, the pole attached tothe hounds, the singletree on the pole, and rods connecting the ends ofthe singletree with the ends of the axle outside the wheels,substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the mainaxle mounted on supporting wheels, boxes on said axle, and houndsconnected with said boxes, of a front elevator mounted on the axleinside said boxes, a rear main frame mounted in boxes on the axleoutside said other boxes, a rear elevator carried by said rear frame, acaster wheel supporting the rear end of said frame,

and means for driving said elevators simul- 1 0 taneously, substantiallyas described.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination With the mainaxle mounted on supporting wheels, boxes on said axle, hounds connectedwith said boxes, and side caster wheels supporting said hounds; of afront elevator mounted on the axle inside the boxes, means for adjustably supporting this elevator from the hounds, a digger at the frontend of the elevator, a rear main frame mounted in boxes on the axleoutside said other boxes and independent of the front elevator, a rearelevator carried by said rear frame, a caster wheel supporting the rearend of said frame, a hanging fender bet-ween the adjacent ends of saidelevators, and means for driving said elevators simultaneously,substantially as described.

4. In a potato digger, the combination with the plow carried by the mainframe, the inclined elevator frame also carried thereby, and havingcurved guides and the elevator in this frame, of the screen under saidelevator, and moving in said guides means for moving the screen thelower half of said screen having smaller openings than the upper half,the double hopper beneath the screen having its angle at thelongitudinal center thereof, two laterally opening delivery months forsaid hopper, doors therein, independent operating cords for opening thedoors, and springs for closing them substantially as described.

5. The combination with an elevator frame, shafts journaled across thesame and having IIC sprocket-wheels, endless chains passing theretheelevators and for reciprocating the screens, over,.and cross bars on theouter faces of the as and for the purpose set forth. 1o chains, ofscreen frames located within the In testimony whereof Iafifixmysignature in elevator frames and cut away opposite said presence oftwo witnesses.

wheels, the cross-bars of said frames working WILLIAM DANBY. in curvedslots in the sides of the elevator Witnesses:

frames, wires in the screen frames standing EDWARD S. CRAWFORD,

beneath the-elevators, and means for moving WILLIE W. DAY.

